A year of enthusiastic fundraising has resulted in estate agency Leaders raising £45,000 for its charity partner Together for Short Lives.

Throughout 2015, Leaders staff across the country organised and took part in dozens of fundraising events and challenges – from cake sales, raffles, quizzes and competitions to sponsored walks, runs, bike rides, head shaves and much more.

Together for Short Lives is the UK’s leading charity for children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions.

They help to ensure that every child and young person unlikely to reach adulthood, and their family, gets the best possible care and support whenever and wherever they need it.

Through the partnership, each Leaders branch has been linked with its nearest children’s hospice to support seriously ill children and their families locally.

The money raised by Leaders’ branches in Sussex will go towards supporting the work of Chestnut Tree House which cares for 300 children and young adults from Sussex with progressive life-shortening conditions.

Clare Tobin, Leaders’ chief operating officer, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to present this fantastic amount of money to Together for Short Lives.

“We know that it will make a big difference in the work they do to help children and families when they need it most and in supporting the amazing work done by children’s hospices.

“We are so grateful to our staff, customers, business associates and the public for their generosity and enthusiasm in helping us to reach this figure, which is almost double our original fundraising target of £25,000. We are also very pleased to be partnering with Together for Short Lives again next year so we can continue our support.”

In addition to fundraising, many Leaders staff elected to do voluntary work for their local children’s hospices, donating their time and efforts to help with gardening and maintenance work, marshalling and working in charity shops.

Staff were given time off work to volunteer or a day off in lieu if they volunteered in their own time.

Leaders’ clients were also generous in their support; with many opting to donate a day’s rent during children’s hospice week which took place in May, raising almost £7,000.

Nick Appleby, corporate fundraising manager at Together for Short Lives said: “The first year of our partnership has been a tremendous success and we are delighted to have Leaders support again in 2016.

“To have raised £45,000 is a fantastic amount and will make a huge difference to the lives of seriously ill children and their families who rely on the vital care provided by local children’s hospices across the country.

!We are extremely grateful for the dedication and enthusiasm shown by all the staff at Leaders.”

Hugh Lowson, chief executive of Chestnut Tree House, said: “We would like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to everyone at Leaders for their amazing efforts and generosity.

“With less than 7 per cent of our annual £3.5 million care costs funded from central government, we rely almost entirely on the support of our community and businesses like Leaders to help us continue providing this vital care to local life-limited children and their families.”